20241105 Regular City Council Meeting - MinutesMINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2024
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra led the Flag Salute.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Melissa Ybarra, Mayor Pro Tem
Leticia Lopez, Council Member
Jesus Rivera, Council Member
ABSENT:
Judith Merlo, Mayor
Crystal Larios, Council Member
STAFF PRESENT:
Daniel Calleros, Interim City Administrator
Zaynah Moussa, City Attorney
Deborah Harrington, Interim City Clerk
Gigi Decavalles-Hughes, Interim Finance Director
Fredrick Agyin, Health and Environmental Control Director
Lisette M. Grizzelle, Interim Human Resources Director
Robert Sousa, Police Chief
Dan Wall, Public Works Director
Todd Dusenberry, Public Utilities General Manager
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
MOTION
Council Member Lopez moved and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to
approve the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried 3-0, Mayor
Merlo and Council Member Larios absent.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
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RECESS/RECONVENE
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra recessed the City Council meeting at 9:02 a.m. to consider
the Board of Library Trustees Meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra reconvened the City Council meeting at 9:09 a.m.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Proclamation Recognizing Retired Employee - George Ruiz
Interim City Clerk Harrington read the proclamation. City Council acknowledged
the proclamation to retired employee George C. Ruiz, Facilities Maintenance
Worker, in recognition of his dedicated service to the City of Vernon.
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION
Council Member Lopez moved and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to
approve the Consent Calendar. The question was called and the motion carried 3-
0, Mayor Merlo and Council Member Larios absent.
The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
2. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the October 15, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting
Minutes.
3. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 138, for the
period of September 15, 2024 through September 28, 2024, totaling $8,016,133.48
and consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $7,366,523.24 and
ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $649,610.24.
4. Redevelopment Agency Obligation Retirement Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Redevelopment Agency Obligation Retirement
Account Warrant Register No. 70, for the period of August 18, 2024 through
September 28, 2024 and consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling
$2,250.
5. Letter of Support Urging the United States Environmental Protection Agency
to Accept Exide Technologies, Inc. into the National Priority List and Identify
the Site and Surrounding Impacted Communities as a Superfund Site
Recommendation: Authorize the Mayor to submit a letter to the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to support the designation of the former
Exide Technologies, Inc. site and impacted neighborhoods as a Superfund Site.
6. Quarterly Report of Cash and Investments
Recommendation: Receive and file the Third Quarter Cash and Investments
Report.
7. Public Works Department Monthly Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the September 2024 Building Report.
8. Union Rescue Mission Fee Waiver
Recommendation: A. Find that granting a fee waiver for the Union Rescue Mission
(URM) is an appropriate use of public funds because URM is a local 501(c)(3) non-
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profit organization assisting the community, and the funds will support activities
that are charitable and provide a substantial benefit to the public; and B. Waive
annual Business License, Hazmat Permit, and Public Health Permit fees for URM
for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-2025 and subsequent years.
9. Third Amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Los
Angeles Gateway Region Integrated Regional Water Management Joint
Powers Authority (GWMA)
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute the
Third Amendment to the MOU with GWMA, in substantially the same form as
submitted, to update and continue implementing the Watershed Management
Program (WMP) and Coordinated Integrated Monitoring Program (CIMP) for a total
amount not-to-exceed $170,000 for a 3-year term.
10. 2023 Power Source Disclosure Program Annual Report and Power Content
Label
Recommendation: A. Ratify the submission to the California Energy Commission
(CEC) of the attestation signed by Vernon Public Utilities’ General Manager of the
veracity of the 2023 Power Source Disclosure Program Annual Report; and B.
Approve the 2023 Power Content Label and authorize its submission to the CEC.
11. New and Revised Personnel Policies and Revised Administrative Manual
Policy
Recommendation: A. Adopt new and revised Personnel Policies and Procedures
Manual Policy III-10 Workplace Violence Prevention Plan Policy (new), I-12
Reference-Background Checks Policy (revised), III-7 City Harassment-
Discrimination Retaliation Prevention Policy (revised), I-13 Criminal Background
Check and Live Scan Policy (revised); B. Adopt revised Administrative Policy
Manual Policy Section 1.2 Miscellaneous City Owned Vehicle Authorization and
Use Policy (revised); and C. Authorize the City Administrator and Director of
Human Resources to execute and distribute the Policies.
NEW BUSINESS
12. April 8, 2025 General Municipal Election
Interim City Clerk Harrington presented the staff report.
MOTION
Council Member Lopez moved and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion
to: A. Adopt Resolution No. 2024-023 calling and giving notice of an all-mail ballot
General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, for the election
of one City Council Member as required by the provisions of the Vernon Charter
and submitting ballot measures to the voters to define the City Council
reorganization process and election canvass; B. Determine Mayor Merlo as author
of arguments and rebuttals; C. Direct the City Clerk to transmit a copy of the
measures to the City Attorney for preparation of the impartial analyses; D. Adopt
Resolution No. 2024-024 adopting regulations for candidates for elective office
pertaining to candidate statements submitted to the voters at any General
Municipal or Special Municipal Election to be held in the City; and E. Adopt
Resolution No. 2024-025 requesting the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los
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Angeles render specified services to the City of Vernon relating to the conduct of
a General Municipal Election to be held Tuesday April 8, 2025. The question was
called and the motion carried 3-0, Mayor Merlo and Council Member Larios absent.
ORAL REPORTS
13. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements.
Interim City Administrator Calleros announced the following:
Fall Harvest (a two-day event) will be held on November 18 with the Vernon
Resident door-to-door grocery gift card delivery at 5:00 p.m. and on
November 19, 2024, the nonprofit organization turkey pick-up at 4:00 p.m.
and Community drive-thru distribution of turkeys and grocery gift cards at
6:30 p.m.
Tree Delivery for Vernon City Elementary School will take place on
December 3, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.
Holiday Tree Lighting will be held on December 5, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00
p.m.
Spark of Love Toy Drive – The County of Los Angeles Fire Department is
accepting applications from nonprofit organizations interested in receiving
donated toys and sports equipment. Only applications received before
December 17, 2024 will be processed.
14. City Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or
Directives to Staff.
None.
CLOSED SESSION
RECESS
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra recessed the meeting to Closed Session at 9:23 a.m.
15. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation
Significant Exposure to Litigation
Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2)
Number of potential cases: 1
RECONVENE
At 9:37 a.m., Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra adjourned the Closed Session and
reconvened the regular meeting.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Moussa reported that Council met in Closed Session, discussed the
item on the agenda, and took no reportable action.
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ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra adjourned the meeting at 9:37 a.m.
_____________________________
JUDITH MERLO, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
YONNIE PARKER, Deputy City Clerk
(seal)
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